There are times when we wish no one had to ask, “Why are my shrimp dying?” but death is a natural part of life.
If you recently experienced a shrimp dying, then we are extremely sorry. It always hurts, no matter how many you have. It should be old age, but too often it’s because of things that can be avoided, like acclimating too quickly, pH changes, tank cycle crashes, molting problems, and so on. It’s not always clear what to do when your shrimp dies, but following the steps in this guide will help you figure out why they are dying. It also protects your other shrimp from the same fate.
We can’t possibly talk about every reason your shrimp died, but this article does talk about the information you need to get to know for sure why your shrimp are dying. There are also a few shrimp keeping groups there that might help you if you are having trouble.
Just so you know, most of the article is written from the point of view of Detective Shrimply who is looking into a case. This is done to make the sad subject more interesting.
As a shrimp keeper, nothing is more disheartening than finding your shrimp dying off one by one Shrimp are sensitive creatures that require specific water parameters and care to thrive If something is off in their environment, it can quickly lead to shrimp deaths.
I’ve experienced the frustration of inexplicable shrimp casualties many times over my years in the hobby. Through trial and error, research, and help from fellow shrimp enthusiasts, I’ve learned the most common causes of shrimp deaths and how to avoid them In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share everything I know to help you get to the bottom of why your shrimp keep dying.
Troubleshooting Shrimp Deaths Step-By-Step
When shrimp start dying in your tank don’t panic. Take a methodical approach to get to the root of the problem
Step 1: Isolate and Examine
As soon as you notice a dead shrimp, use a net or turkey baster to remove it from the tank. Examine it closely in a small container of tank water. Look for any signs of disease or parasites on the body, legs, gills and mouth. Also check for failed molts, which show up as cracked shells or molted skin attached to the body.
Document your observations with photos. This evidence will be helpful if you need to ask experienced shrimp keepers for advice later.
Step 2: Test Water Parameters
Test and record pH, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and temperature. Compare to the ideal ranges for your shrimp species. Any parameters outside the ideal ranges could be causing issues.
Make sure your test kits are not expired for accurate results. Test strips are notorious for being unreliable – liquid test kits are better.
Step 3: Review Any Recent Changes
Think back over the last few weeks. Did you make any changes to the tank?
- New décor, substrate or plants?
- Added new shrimp?
- Did a water change?
- New food or chemicals near the tank?
- Tank maintenance?
Even small changes can disrupt a shrimp tank, so make note of any possibilities.
Step 4: Research the Possible Causes
Using the information gathered in steps 1-3, research what could potentially be killing your shrimp. Some top suspects:
- Failed molts: Caused by low calcium, low GH, or sudden GH swings.
- Water quality issues: Ammonia, nitrites or nitrates outside ideal range.
- Copper poisoning: From contaminated plants or water.
- Poor acclimation: From new shrimp or water changes.
- Pests & diseases: Like hydra, planaria, vorticella.
Step 5: Make a Plan and Act
Once you have a likely culprit, develop a plan to remedy the issue. Some examples:
- Do more frequent, smaller water changes if nitrates are high.
- Add minerals like GH/KH+ to increase hardness if molting is the issue.
- Use medications or salt baths to treat diseases and parasites.
Continue testing water parameters daily and monitor for improvement. Further shrimp deaths may occur before things stabilize.
8 Most Common Causes of Shrimp Deaths
From my experience and research, these are the most prevalent shrimp killers:
1. Failed Molts
Molting problems are a leading cause of shrimp deaths. Shrimp need adequate calcium and mineral levels (GH) to properly molt their exoskeletons as they grow. Low GH, low calcium, or drastic GH fluctuations can all cause molting issues.
Signs are cracked exoskeletons, molts stuck to bodies, and deaths shortly after molting.
2. Water Quality Problems
Shrimp are extremely sensitive to water parameters, especially ammonia and nitrites. Levels above 0 ppm can quickly kill them. Nitrates above 20 ppm can also cause issues.
An uncycled tank or mini-cycle from disrupting the bacteria colonies are often to blame. Overfeeding can also spike ammonia.
3. Copper Poisoning
Copper is toxic to invertebrates. It most often enters tanks via contaminated plants or tap water. Levels as low as .15 ppm can be lethal to shrimp.
Test for copper if shrimp seem to be dying suddenly. Use a heavy metal detoxifier to bind any copper.
4. Poor Acclimation
Improper acclimation when adding new shrimp or doing water changes can shock and kill shrimp. Temp, pH, GH, and TDS changes need to be gradual.
Dripping new water into the tank over several hours is ideal. Shrimp may frantically swim or become lethargic if changes happen too fast.
5. Pests & Diseases
Planaria, hydra, ellobiopsidae, scutariella, vorticella…the list of pests and diseases that can plague shrimp is long.
Quarantine and treat any infected shrimp. Improve water quality and nutrition to strengthen shrimp immunity.
6. Predation & Aggression
Shrimp can become prey to fish, snails and predatory insects. Even normally peaceful tankmates may turn aggressive and attack shrimp.
Provide plenty of hiding spots. Remove any predators. Have backup tanks available.
7. Environmental Stress
Weakened shrimp are extra sensitive to environmental fluctuations. Temperature swings, pH shifts and TDS changes that shrimp normally tolerate can become lethal.
Maintain stable conditions and high water quality. Avoid overcrowding.
8. Old Age
Shrimp don’t have particularly long lifespans.Avg lifespan is 1-2 yrs but can reach up to 3 yrs in optimal conditions.
Unexplained single deaths of large, older shrimp are often simply due to old age.
Preventing Future Shrimp Losses
Once you’ve solved the issue killing your shrimp, take measures to prevent it from happening again:
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Quarantine new plants and shrimp for at least 1 month. Treat potential pests & disease before adding.
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Test water parameters 1-2 times per week. Stay on top of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, GH, KH.
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Avoid overfeeding. Excess uneaten food pollutes water.
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Use remineralizing products like Salty Shrimp GH/KH+ to maintain stable GH, KH and TDS.
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Introduce tank changes slowly. Drip acclimate new water over several hours.
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Have emergency backup tanks ready for issues like ammonia spikes or aggression.
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Cull weak shrimp. Don’t introduce potentially poor genetics into the colony.
Step 1: Initial Shrimp Death Investigation
*WE-OOO WE-OOO WE-OOO*
*Squealing car tires*
*Door slamming*
*Rapid footsteps approaching*
“Officer, what happened here?”
“Thank goodness you’re here Detective Shrimply! There’s a body we need you to take a look at.”
“Lead the way. Oh, and good job getting a perimeter set up. Let’s get some pictures and see what we can find. ”.
Whenever you see a dead shrimp, immediately set up a perimeter to isolate it from the others. That means getting it out of the tank and into a separate container filled with water. There are a few reasons for this:
- It could be a bacterial infection or a parasite that can spread to other shrimp. Isolating the body helps to prevent anything from spreading.
- It is easier to look at the shrimp when they are alone. This lets you get a better look for clues about what killed the person. There are also more pictures to choose from if you can’t figure out what’s wrong and need help from experienced shrimp keepers online.
- A closer inspection may reveal movement. The shrimp that looks like it’s dead might still be alive and make it through.
After you’ve taken care of the scene and made your first observations, add those notes to the case file. After that, it is time to talk to some witnesses.
Step 2: Check and Record Water Parameters
“So… Mrs. pH, is it?”
“Y-Yes… Yes sir.”
“Where were you at the time of death?”
“I was just, uh, on the corner of Street 7.2, s-sir, at my job.”
“Hmmm, were you now?”
Mumbling
“That-That’s correct.”
“Then why does our witness Ms. Test Strip testify seeing you at Street 8.2?!”
*Throws test strip at witness*
The second step is to look around the scene of the crime and talk to any witnesses who might know why your shrimp died. That starts with your water parameters and the test kits themselves. All the following parameters should be questioned:
Be sure to record these in the case file.
If you don’t already have test kits for all of these factors, you should definitely get some because it’s hard to figure out why the shrimp died without them.
Now, it’s time to do some background checks on the witnesses to confirm they’re not covering anything up. Can you trust what Ms. Test Strip told you? What about the others?.
To do a background check, make sure to check the testing equipment’s expiration dates and look online for reviews of witnesses’ credibility. Some kits, especially test strips, are notoriously unreliable.
If any of your trustworthy witnesses notices something strange, it might not be hard to figure out who did it. Nitrates above 40 (or even 20) and ammonia or nitrite levels above 0 are clearly bad. The pH shouldn’t have changed much since your last test, and GH and KH should both be above 0 (most of the time).
It is also important to consider if the death could have been natural. Even though it’s hard to say for sure how old a shrimp is, a bigger adult that had been in the tank for a year or more may have died of old age. If parameters are fine and only one shrimp died, then that may be the most likely cause.
What should you do if you don’t believe the death was natural and there are no suspicious witnesses? Recreate the events that led to the death.
10 Most Common Reasons Why Shrimp Die!
What happens if a shrimp dies?
When a shrimp dies, regardless of the colour it used to be, it will turn to a shade of pink/orange. This is caused by a type of pigment in their body called Carotenoids. These aren’t produced by the shrimp themselves but taken in from algae and other plant matter that created them. The carotenoids create bonds with other proteins in the body.
What are the side effects of eating shrimp?
Shrimp allergy can be identified from signs and symptoms that appear after consuming shrimp or smelling it, such as itching, the appearance of red plaques on the skin, swelling in the face, especially in the eyes and mouth, and in the throat creating the feeling of a lump in the throat.
Why do shrimp die in an aquarium?
Shrimp can die due to various reasons including poor water parameters, stress, inadequate diet, disease, sudden changes in water conditions, or exposure to toxins. The mystery of dying shrimp in an aquarium can be puzzling. One day, your vibrant little shrimp are thriving, and the next, they’re gone.
Why do shrimp die so fast?
When delving into the world of shrimp death, one of the key factors that comes up repeatedly is water parameters. Water parameters are a crucial aspect of tank maintenance, and failure to keep them optimal can have dire consequences, with shrimp dying off at a rapid pace.